January 25, Colombo (LNW): An Indonesian Navy warship attached to a United Nations peacekeeping operation has arrived in Colombo following the completion of a year-long overseas deployment.
KRI Sultan Iskandar Muda (SIM-367) berthed at the Colombo Port after concluding its assignment with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Maritime Task Force for 2024–2025.
The vessel carried a crew of 120 personnel, including 12 women, reflecting Indonesia’s growing emphasis on inclusive participation in international peacekeeping. Indonesia remains one of the world’s leading contributors to UN missions, ranking fifth globally, with more than 2,700 personnel deployed in 2025, over 200 of whom are women.
During the ship’s stay in Colombo, Indonesian Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Dewi Gustina Tobing, hosted a Dialogue and Sharing Experience session on board, bringing together Indonesian and Sri Lankan peacekeepers.
The event was attended by senior military representatives, including Indonesia’s Defence Attaché in New Delhi, Commodore Ardiansyah Muqsit, and the ship’s Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel (Navy) Anugerah Annurullah, alongside women peacekeepers from both nations.
Crew members of KRI Sultan Iskandar Muda outlined the ship’s operational role within the UNIFIL Maritime Task Force, where it was engaged in maritime surveillance and broader security support alongside naval units from Germany, Bangladesh, Türkiye and Greece. Indonesia stood out as the only contingent operating an embarked helicopter, with responsibility for helicopter command duties and over 136 hours of recorded flight time during the mission. Women sailors served across a wide range of functions, including operations, engineering, logistics, aviation support and mission coordination.
Sri Lankan peacekeepers also shared reflections from their own UN deployments. Colonel W.T.A.S. Perera recounted her service in the Sahara, highlighting both the professional challenges and the human connections formed with local communities. Another officer spoke of her experience in UNIFIL, particularly her work at the Joint Experience Centre, with the discussion expanding to include the realities of balancing demanding field assignments with family life.
Ambassador Tobing noted that the diverse roles performed by women on board SIM-367 — including aviation, with a female Panther helicopter pilot — illustrated the evolving nature of peacekeeping operations and the critical contributions women make across technical and operational fields. The exchange, she said, helped deepen cooperation and mutual understanding between Indonesian and Sri Lankan peacekeepers while celebrating shared commitments to international peace and security.
